From: NghtGambiT@aol.com


Night Life

New York City.  To all who live in it, it is a never-ending supply of drama
and excitement unlike any other city in the world.  The Towering buildings
surrounded New York like watch towers from an ancient Kingdom.  Crystal
citadels that seem to touch the stars.  In this beautiful kingdom, exist a
war.  The war.  The Good fights an Evil that fights for control of not just
the city, but the world.  Like Every Kingdom before it, New York has it's
Knights and it's Villains.  Throughout the years, the lines have become
blurry.  Good and Evil have become hard to differentiate.  Good sometimes
walks in the Darkness, Evil comes fort into the light.  That razor's edge
has
dissolved into a river of possibilities.  On the front line of this battle,
stands a small group of outcast that swore to protect the world that hates
and fears them.  A small group that fights day in and day out to pull the
innocent out of the line of fire.  They are known as X-men.  Some would call
them Genetic freaks with Powers to dangerous to keep alive.  While, others
claim them to be the next step up on the evolutionary ladder.  Regardless of
what you call them, they are different.  But, aren't we all?

Like every great kingdom before it, New York was known for its great
parties.
 All Nighters that changed the course of people's lives.  Remy Lebeau  (The
X-men's most mysterious member) had seen his share of parties.  Mainly in a
little town called New Orleans.  The stories he could tell you about Mardi
Gras on the French Quarter, would put any New York Party to shame.

He moved through the dance floor like a shadow.  Dodging ever misplaced foot
and fist like a pro.  Making his way slowly, but surely to the bar.  He
accomplished his goal with little effort and few casualties.  He knew for a
fact that Rogue and Logan had entered with him, but from then on in.. Their
whereabouts were a mystery.  Storm always told Remy that he could lose his
own shadow if he tried.

"Excuse me, You look like a man who knows what he likes.  Would you mind if
I
asked you an important question?"  She appeared out of nowhere.  Her words
flowed like a soft wind amongst the hurricane that surrounded them.  Remy
could count on one hand the amount of times he saw a woman this beautiful.
Wonder who she was?

"Ya can count on me Chere'."  He said awaiting his challenge.

"My friends tell me that Every time I bend over, you can see my panties.  I
for one don't think you can."  She slowly turned around, yet trying to keep
the eye contact that Remy had noticed since he first walked into the Bar.  A
smile crossed her face as she slowly bent over, allowing the back of her
skirt to rise ever so slightly.  "Tell me, What color panties am I wearing?"
 She stood about 5'8,  Legs that seemed to go on forever.  Skin that looked
as smooth as silk.  Her scent was as intoxicating as the sound of her voice.

A smile crossed Remy's face as he discovered a cigarette deep within his
jacket pocket. Though, For the life of him, he could not find his lighter.
"That be a very serious question Chere',  Allow me to answer it like dis.
Remy has always been fond of the color black."  She was about to move in for
the kill when..

"Well, if it isn't the love of my life Remy Lebeau!  Sugah, Don't you be
leaving me alone like that!  I just can't handle it.  Oh, Who's your little
friend?"
Rogue always enjoyed Remy's little flirtations.  Sometimes it seemed like
Remy just couldn't help himself. As if she lost all her grace at the door,
Rogue squeezed between Remy and "Little Mrs. Panty Line".  "Oh, Remy, I hope
I'm not disrupting you.."  A small smile crossed her face as she turned to
face Gambit.  In truth, she was hardly jealous, it was just fun messing with
him.

"No, you're not.. I was just leaving."  Remy wasn't sure, but he swore he
heard her call him an 'ass' as she walked away.

Remy Lebeau was one of those few people who never broke under the stress of
combat. He would dance around his would-be attacker with little ease.  He
would put any assailant to shame with  his sheer ability to move faster then
they could think.  Right when you think you have him, he shoves a hand full
of kinetically charged cards down your throat.  Which made the little bead
of
sweat running down the side of his face all the more memorable.

"Cajun, you always had a way with the ladies.  Someday, you'll have to show
me how you do it."  Logan's sarcasm, while usually annoying, acted as the
perfect means of escape from Rogue's deadly stare.  "Don't let him Walk all
over you Rogue, He's not as smooth as he acts.  I would love to stay and
play
chaperone all night, but I got plans else where .  You two play nice."

Logan had always protected Rogue.  Remy could remember about five different
instances were Logan had threatened to cause great pain to him if he ever
broke Rogue's heart.  Remy had always respected that.  Just right now, he
couldn't remember why.

"Remy, I swear, I can't leave you alone for more then a few seconds without
you gallivanting with some Swamp Rat."

"Don you worry bout that Chere', You  know that Gambit will always be coming
home to you.  You're all that Remy needs to get through the Night."

The Blare of the speakers could be heard from blocks away.  Every Friday
Night, the residents above "Paradox" had to endure shaking walls and floors.
The room seemed to come alive under the spell of the music.  Hundreds of
people moving and swaying in rhythm to the jungle beat that pumped from the
huge speakers.   Rogue had seen many battles, survived many wars, that
hadn't
been this loud.  Despite the overbearing noise emulating from the club,
Rogue
was still able to feel the approaching danger from outside the club.  The
early Parts of Rogue's life are still a mystery to the rest of the X-men.
The years before joining her previous position on the Brotherhood of Evil
Mutants, still holds it's dark secrets that Rogue would rather keep to
herself.  Her life, as a mutant, changed forever the day she absorbed Carol
Danver's powers. With them, A "Sixth Sense" that warned her of an enemies
attack, right before it happened.  She rarely used it nowadays, but there
were still moments when it would kick in.  This was one of them.

The front door of the Club seemed to melt away in a huge blaze of fire,
throwing many patrons of the club flying across the room.  After the music
stopped, all that could be heard was the sounds of people's moans and cries.
Rogue made her way through the crowd as best as she could, despite the fact
she was moving against the huge crowd of people making their way towards the
back exit.  Within seconds, a Clearing developed from the front door
outwards
of at least 20 feet.  Most of The party goers ran against the side wall for
protection, while other hid under tables in the back.  Nothing but empty
space between Rogue and the danger that awaited her outside.  Rogue looked
to
her side to find Remy next to her, holding 4 playing cards waiting to be
charged.  The enemy had not yet revealed itself from the street.  When
Suddenly a young girl, no more then 17, was thrown into the club.  Her
cloths
burned to chards, her flesh slightly singed.  She crawled to Rogue and
Gambit, seeking protection from the yet unknown adversary.

"Please... you have to help me!  He's crazy!  I didn't do anything to
Wesley!
 He's Trying to Kill me! I didn't know he was a mutant!"  She grabbed on to
Gambit's jacket, trying to get back up.

"Calm Down Girl, We're here to help.. You Have to Tell us, who's out there?"
Rogue  knelt down next to the girl, trying to calm her down to a point where
she was able to tell them what was going on.

"Rogue, you watch the girl, I'm goin out there.. " Gambit didn't know what
made him more angry.  A beautiful young girl being thrown around with no
respect or the fact that his first 'date' with Rogue in weeks was being
rudely interrupted.

Remy moved slowly has he stepped over the debris that had once been a door.
Still holding those 4 cards in his hands.  He found the street in utter
chaos.  Cars burned in the streets, streetlights spit electrical sparks onto
the pavement.  Someone was waging a war tonight.  Remy turned slowly to find
a dark figure standing amongst the flames.  A dark skinned man, about the
age
of 20.  He turned to Remy slowly, attempting to make his way into the club.

Before Remy could question tonight's badguy, The man raised his hand towards
him.  The man's hand became engulfed in flames.  His eyes blazed in the
darkness of the night.  Suddenly, a huge flame fired from the man's hand,
towards Remy.  Quickly, Gambit jumped for cover behind a nearby Car.  He
charged his cards and threw them towards his adversary, attempting to hit
the
man from the side.  Noticing the approaching danger, the dark figure raised
his hand and burned the cards in midair.  Apparently, he was some sort of
pyrotechnic.  Able to create and control fire that seemed to burn from his
hands.

"Nice trick Mon Ami.  Now, why don you just tell Remy why you're causin such
a ruckus and scarin that petite to death.  Not to mention ruinin my only
night out on the town?"

"Stay out of this mutant.  This has nothing to do with you.  Just give Ariel
to me and I'll leave you alone."

"It's Wesley? Right?  You don honestly believe that I'm just gonna hand over
the girl without a fight?  In case you didn realize, I be the good guy
here."


Before the man could attack Remy again, he was hit hard from behind by
Rogue.
 Gambit's conversation served as the perfect distraction while Rogue snuck
out of the club and flew around to the back of Wesley.  Rogue stood over the
unconscious "Wesley" as the sound of police sirens could be heard
approaching
from around the block.  Rogue was about to take flight towards Remy when she
noticed a giant flame growing around Wesley's hands.  Before she could
react,
it shot at her, sending her flying across the street into a brick wall.  The
man stood slowly, a little dazed by Rogue's attack.

"Not a very good idea Mutant.  I would have let you live if you would have
just handed over the girl like I asked.  I have to teach her a lesson.  No
one turns down Wesley Matters.  Nobody!  You know how many girls would love
for me to show them a little bit of attention?  Do you Know?!   How dare she
turn me Down!"  His eyes seemed to grow brighter as his words became more
erratic.  In this world, people believed that all mutants attempted to rule
the world.  Or maybe even topple the government.  You have to realize,
mutants are human beings.  With that, comes the same emotional baggage.
There are millions of 'Wesleys' in the world.  People who believe themselves
to be better then others, mutant or human.  Which they believe, Gave them
the
right to take what they want, when they want it.  The difference with this
situation is, he has the power to reinforce his darkness, with more deadly
effects.

"Calm Down Mon Ami.. It don have to be dis way..  " Remy moved slowly
towards
Wesley, 2 playing cards rested in his hand, ready to attack.

"Yes Mutant, it does.. Say Goodnight Friend."  His hand seemed to burn as
bright as the sun.  The darkness in his soul, shining through with the heat
that seemed to burn deep from within him.  The Flames grew larger and more
violent.  Remy backed away slowly, but it was too late.  The flames shot at
him with all the heat of hell itself.

To Be Continued...